In 1977, Jason Black, another alias of Italian composer Benito Simoncini (1939-2011), released American Bus, an instrumental funk-rock album with a bluesy flavor. Originally released on the Wild Cat label, the LP combines American-influenced rock grooves with jazzy horns, soulful keys, and a dash of Italo suspense. This concept is visually emphasized by the cover, which shows a view of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge from a bus.
In the rearview mirror
The sound of the twelve tracks is oriented towards the rock of the late 1970s – with punchy funk, saxophone lines and psychedelic accents. The reggae-influenced “Lombard Street” provides a striking counterpoint. Benito Simoncini, composer, arranger and pianist, has written more than 2,000 pieces for film, television and library catalogs throughout his career. Among his best-known releases are the geographically inspired Accadde A Bali (1970) and Background Music N. 4, which documents his stylistic range.
On July 25, 2025, American Bus will be officially re-released by BTF Records as part of the Edizioni Leonardi series. On the occasion of this year’s Summer of Jazz, the album will be exclusively available in a limited edition of 250 copies on clear red vinyl.
American Bus HHV Summer Of Jazz Exclusive Clear Red Vinyl Edition
